Near Rusk in Cherokee County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

Site of Tassie Belle and Star and Crescent Iron Ore Furnaces

Photographed by Jeff Leichsenring, December 1, 2025

1. Site of Tassie Belle and Star and Crescent Iron Ore Furnaces Marker

Inscription. New Birmingham was a boom town nearby in the late 1880s built around local iron ore operations. The furnaces, capable of producing 50 tons of iron daily, were named "Tassie Belle," after the wife of the town founder A. B. Bevins, and the "Star and Crescent." About 275 workmen were required to keep furnaces in continual operation. The town grew to over 3,000 people with a business district of 15 blocks including 32 mercantile houses, an ice plant, the spacious Southern Hotel, bottling works, and an early electric power plant. The 1893 panic bankrupted the industries and killed the town.

Erected 1996 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 6869.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1893.

Location. 31° 46.647′ N, 95° 7.237′ W. Marker is near Rusk, Texas, in Cherokee County. It is on U.S. 69 south of Farm to Market 343 (State Highway 343), on the right when traveling south. The marker is 3 miles south of Rusk. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Rusk TX 75785, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the American South,

specifically in the Deep South,

and in the Piney Woods.

Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the Republic of Texas,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: C.S.A. Prisoner of War Compound (approx. 1½ miles away); James Stephen Hogg and Cherokee County (approx. 1½ miles

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

away); Cedar Hill Cemetery (approx. 1.7 miles away); Gregg Family Home (approx. 1.8 miles away); The Dr. I.K. Frazier Home (approx. 1.8 miles away); Site of Rusk College (approx. 1.9 miles away); Site of Cook's Fort (approx. 1.9 miles away); Rusk Footbridge (approx. 2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Rusk.

Tassie Belle and Star and Cresent Iron Ore Furnaces Markers image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Gregory Walker, March 13, 2010

2. Tassie Belle and Star and Cresent Iron Ore Furnaces Markers

Tassie Belle and Star and Cresent Iron Ore Furnaces Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Gregory Walker, March 13, 2010

3. Tassie Belle and Star and Cresent Iron Ore Furnaces Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on December 4, 2025. It was originally submitted on April 23, 2010, by Gregory Walker of La Grange, Texas. This page has been viewed 3,915 times since then and 207 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on December 2, 2025, by Jeff Leichsenring of Garland, Texas. 2, 3. submitted on April 23, 2010, by Gregory Walker of La Grange, Texas. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.